Demi aims high

With a goal of business ownership in the future, Year 13 Sacred Heart Girls’ College ākonga Demi Hudson is enrolling in the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy Level 4 next year to start laying the foundation to achieve her goals. 

“My big goal is to set up my own salon, or salons, in Aussie,” she says. 

She plans on completing the Level 5 qualification the year after and getting the valuable CIDESCO qualification so her training is recognised worldwide. 

The idea of working for herself is appealing and says she won’t get bored in the beauty industry as new trends are always coming along.

Demi has had a taste of the industry by taking part in the Secondary Tertiary Pathways 3+2 programme this year. She says this has allowed her to have the best of both worlds.

“I still get to graduate from school and I’ve got to try beauty and know I like it.”

WITT Te Pūkenga Beauty and Make-up Kaiako Haley Maindonald isn’t surprised at Demi’s ambitions: “Demi’s motivation throughout her studies this year has been exceptional. Demi continuously strives for excellence, she is an inspiring role model.”

Through the programme Demi’s also got to try life as a WITT ākonga too. She says she appreciates being treated like an adult and finds it motivating being surrounded by people who want to be in class.

Demi has always wanted to do something in the beauty industry and looked into hairdressing during her time at WITT, but says she fell in love with the beauty industry.

“I feel like this is a smart choice for me, I am still in my hometown, close to family.”

Demi’s sister Rhegan works at WITT in the Youth Guarantees Team and they both say they wouldn’t be surprised if their younger sister Tori also comes to WITT and considers a qualification in hair and beauty.